Long-distance train journeys across Europe could be much faster, if timetables were better coordinated. A study by the Institute for Transport Planning and Systems at ETH Zurich shows that travellers spend about a quarter of their journey time waiting during transfers or sitting on stationary trains. Better synchronisation of rail services could shorten travel times across Europe to a similar extent as some costly infrastructure projects. Switzerland is among the best-performing regions.
The human microbiome may play a critical role in determining the health impacts of chemical exposure from food, according to new research on the herbicide metazachlor.
ETH Zurich Professor Ralf Jung (D-INFK) has received the ICFP Most Influential Paper Award for the 2016 paper “Higher-Order Ghost State”, co-authored with Robbert Krebbers, Lars Birkedal and Derek Dreyer. The award recognises the paper’s lasting impact on the Iris program logic framework, which has become an important foundation for research on software verification. It is Jung’s second Most Influential Paper Award within two years, highlighting the continued impact of his research.